A worried mum whose son is about to start secondary school says she is being forced to pay #200 a year to make sure he gets there safely.

Tricia Park, from Askrigg Walk, Berwick Hills, became embroiled in a row with Middlesbrough Council after enrolling her 11-year-old son Joe at St David's Technology College, Acklam.

She says she was under the impression he would qualify for free travel on a school bus, which stops outside their home.

Two weeks into the summer holidays she discovered Joe was not entitled to free travel as he lives within a three-mile radius of the school site.

She was left with two choices, either pay #200 a year to use the bus or let him walk.

She said: "If you live more than three miles away you are supposed to be able to get free transport, but I was told they calculate the shortest route."

The worried mum says the direct route from their home to school would put Joe in danger, a risk she is not prepared to take.

"He would have to walk across a bridge over train tracks and on to Belle Vue Grove which isn't safe, and near St Luke's Hospital and through Grove Hill.

"The bus which takes them to school stops two minutes from our house, but I was told because he didn't have an older brother or sister at the school, and because we weren't on benefits, we would have to pay.

"I was told every parent got a leaflet outlining who would have to pay and who wouldn't but I didn't get anything.

"Then I found out two weeks into the six weeks holiday so I had no time to try to change schools or anything.

"I wanted Joe to go to a Catholic school but now I feel like I am being penalised."

Joe left St Alphonsus School at North Ormesby in July and is due to start St David's, when term starts.

Cllr Paul Thompson, the council's executive member for education, said confusion arose after the authority arranged transport for St Anthony's pupils when the school closed.

He said: "Government rules stipulate that we offer school transport to pupils who live more than three miles from the school site.

"In this case, the pupil lives within this area and for that reason he is not eligible for transport.

"We did, as a matter of goodwill, arrange transport for pupils who were attending St Anthony's when it closed.

"The difference here is that Joe Park has just finished primary school and has never been a pupil at St Anthony's."